In a shock announcement Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of the race for leadership of the Conservative Party.

Conservative leadership favourite Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the contest. The move comes after justice secretary Michael Gove, a fellow Vote Leave campaigner, made a surprise bid to become David Cameron's successor as prime minister.

"My role will be to give every possible support to the next Conservative administration to make sure that we properly fulfill the mandate of the people that was delivered at the referendum and to champion the agenda that I believe in, to stick up for the forgotten people of this country.

"And, if we do so, if we invest in our children and improve their life chances, if we continue to fuel the engines of social mobility, if we build on the great reforming legacy of David Cameron, if we invest in our infrastructure and we follow a sensible, one nation Conservative approach that is simultaneously tax-cutting and pro-enterprise, then I believe that this country can win and be better and more wonderful and, yes, greater than ever before."

In a shock announcement Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of the race for leadership for the Conservative party.Getty